Game apparatus.



F.VH. ELLISON.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG-24. 19H- 2 SHEETSSHEET l- WITNESSES ATTORNEY F. h. ELLISON.

GAME APPARATUS. I APPLICATLON- FILED AUG-24, I917.

' 1,253,471. Patented Jan. 1918.

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ATTORNEY WITNESSES J4 WKQZJ' xmm/fl I Us INVENTOH UNITED sTAtrps PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. ELLISON, 01 B13 LAKE, WISCONSIN.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

Application filed August 24, 1917. Serial No. 185,023.

Tdull whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK a citizen of the United States, residing at Rib Lake, in the county of Taylor and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to games and toys, and more particularly to game apparatus employing playing pieces or projectiles.

The main object of the invention is to construct an apparatus of this class which may be used equally well for the entertainment of both children and older persons, and may be played by any number of people.

Another object is to construct an apparatus employing channels and balls in which the balls are kept in continuous circulation by the players.

Another object is to construct a1i.appa ratus of this character having switch controlled ball channels for varying the course of the balls.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects, in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the comination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a game apparatus,constructed in accordance with this, invention,

Fi 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the hue 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sliding illlxiig iary top of the apparatus, the posts or studs which operate as guides for said top being shown in section,

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the inclined bottom'of the apparatus detached, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical detail section taken on the 1ine.5-5 of Fig. 1.

The game apparatus constituting this invention is shown in the form of a hollow rectangular supporting frame 1 of a sufiicient height to space its top 2.- a distance above a table or other support on which the frame is to be mounted suflicient to provide ample room beneath said to for the operating mechanism of the apparatus.

, I The top 2 is made of any suitable mate.

H. ELLISON,

rial which is thick enough to provide for the formation therein ofball channels 3 and 4, channel 3 being here shown substantially ovate in configuration and extending around the greater portion of said top while the channel 4 which is arranged in the space bounded by the channel 3 is substantially circular in form with an entrance groove or channel 5 leading therefrom and merging into the entrance to channel 3 as is shown clearly in Fig. 1. A switch 6 is pivotally mounted at the junction of the entrances to the channels 3 and l and is adapted to be swung so as to permit the balls to enter either one or the other of said'channels according to the position in which said switch is disposed. Another switch 7 is arranged to swing transversely across channel 3 at any suitable point, preferably at theend oppo:

site to the entrance end of said channel and this switch may be swung inwardly into dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 when it is desired to permit the playing pieces to pass entirely around the channel and when swung into the open position shown in said figure will operate to obstruct them and permit their passage through a portion only of said'channel.

Arranged around the inner edges of the channels 3 and i are a plurality of spaced apertures 8 and 8', any desired number of which may be employed and which extend through the top 2 and are designed to permit the passage of the playing pieces 01' balls 10 when said balls are projected by the player in a manner hereinafter 'more fully described. These apertures have depressions 9 arranged adjacent theretoto facilitate the entrance of the halls- 10 into the apertures.

An auxiliary top 11 is mounted to slide below top 2 and adjacent thereto and as shown in Fig. 3 is substantially oval in shape with longitudinally slotted cars 12 arranged-at opposite sides thereof near its ends and through which are designed to pass studs 13 which depend from top and operate as guides for the top 11, the extent of movement of said top being controlled by the length of the slots in the ears 12. I

This auxiliary top 11 is provided adjacent its peripheral edge with a plurality ofapertures l-l spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the apertures 8 in the top 2 and are designed to register with said'apertures 8 when the top 11 is vided with a plurality of centrally dis osed circularly arranged apertures 14' whic are designed to register w1th the apertures 8 at the center of top 2.

Mounted adjacent one edge of the auxiliary top 11v are a pair of depending spaced fingers or lugs 15 which are here shown carried by ametal strap 16 fixed to the top 11. These depending fingers are designed to receive the free end of one arm of a bell crank 17 which is designed to be actuated for shifting-the top 11 back and forth. The bell crank 17 is fulcrumed on a shaft 18 mounted in suitable bearings carried b the frame 1 and which has an operating andle' 19 disposed at its outer end to provide for the turning of the shaft and the rocking of the bell crank in amanner presently tobe described. A spring 20 normally bears against the arm of the bell crank 17 which is positioned between the fingers 15 and operates to hold the auxiliary top 11 in retracted position as shown in Fig. 2 so that the aperturesl-l and 14' therein are normally out of a register with the apertures 8 and 8' in top 2.

The other arm 21 of the bell crank 17 has an upturned finger 22 which is positioned in the ball pocket 23 arranged vertically in the frame 1 near one corner thereof as'is shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 and which 'is designed to retain a plurality of balls 10,

the lowermost of which rests on the upper end of the fin er 22 which is positioned vertically in sai pocket as is shown clearly in Fig. 2. .The lower end of this ball pocket 23 communicates with a chamber'24 formed between the lower face of the auxiliary top 11 and a downwardly and forwardly inclined bottom 25 which is secured at its opposite ends to the opposite ends of top 2, flanges 26 being. here shown for attaching said bottom to said top. The arm of the bell crank 17 which is disposed between. the

fingers 15 extends through bottom 25 near.

its lower end and the spring 20 also extends through the same aperture in said bottom th'rpugh which said bell crank-extends as is shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The ball pocket 23 also through'one side wall thereof to provide for the .passage of a balLsupport 28 which is -carried bythe free 'end of a saring 29 secured to .the outer face of sai pocket 23,

said-spring operating to force said support gnormally into the path of the balls to be contained in said pocket. The support 28 is beveled on its lower face so that when the ball below it is forced upwardly into the pocket by the actuation of the bell crank 17 it will move said, support laterally outward against the tension of its spring and permit the ball-so elevated to pass above said support which will then spring back into posihas an opening 27 to bear against the uppermost ball contained in the-pocket so that when said ball reaches a certain point, the pressure of the spring will force it laterally out through an opening-31 onto a seat 32 arranged adjacent said. pocket. This seat 32 is positioned opposite a projector 33 controlled by a push button 3i which is carried b an arm 35 extending laterally from one si e wall of the frame '1. This arm 35 constitutes one member of a bell crank, the other arm 36 of which projects upwardly through a slot 37 formed in top 2 and carries a ball projector or hammer head 33. This hammer head or projector 33 is here shown arc-uate in form and conforms to the shape of the ball which it is, designed to hit and which is forced against. the ball on the release of the push button 34 by means of a spring 38 shown clearly in Fig. 5. It will thus be seen that when the push button 34 is depressed, the arm 36 of the bell crank will be forced rearwardly against the tension of spring 38 and when said button is released this spring will, operate to forcibly move said arm forward causing the head 33 at its free end to 'en age the ball 10 disposed-in its path and rive said ball forwardly causing it to enter ball channels 3 0r 4 according to the direction in which the switch 6 is positioned, said ball entering the channel 4 when the switch is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fi 1 and enters channel 3 when said switch 15 in its full line position shown in this figure.

Carried by the top 2,. preferably at one corner thereof, is a registering or-counting apparatus for registering the number of polnts made by players during the playing of a game. This registering apparatus, wh1le it constitutes nopart'of the present invention, it being obvious that any other means for keeping the count may be employed, is here shown in the form of three dials 39, 40 and 41, hearing numerals'from 1 to 9 on their outer faces and mounted to overlap each other, being provided with thumb nuts or knurled knobs 12 to facilitate the turning of said dials. As shown, these dials are mounted between the upper face of the top 2 and a plate 43' spaced suitably above sald top to form a bearing support for the dials. This plate 43 isprovided with a. slot 44 positioned so that one of the numerals carried by each dial'will be exposed therethrough as is shown clearly in Fig. 1, so that the dials'may be turned to show the exact count through said opening.

The apertures 8 formed around the channel 3 are numbered as shown in Fig. 1 as are also the apertures 8 arranged around channel 4 and are designed to be used in playing different games similar to the inanner in which counts are made in a game of billiards. j

This improved apparatus may be employed for playing a. variety or number of games.

In the use of this apparatus, when the balls are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the player depresses the push button 3+L and releases it thereby causing the hammer 33 to forcibly strike the ball 10' which is positioned on the seat 32 and drives it forward causing it to roll into one of the apertures in the channel into which it is directed. After this ball has entered the aperture 8 or 8 in the top 2 and the player has taken note of the number of said aperture, he then depresses the crank handle 19 which causes the auxiliary top 11 to slide forward until its apertures l tand 14 are caused to register with the apertures 8 and 8' in top 2 and thus permit theball which has been projected to drop through said registering apertures onto the inclined bottom 25. t will then roll down said bottom into the ball pocket 23 onto the upstanding finger 22 of i the bell crank 17 as is shown clearly in Fig. 2. It is understood that immediately the crank 19 is released that the spring 20 will operate to return the bell crank into normal position shown in Fig. 2 thereby retracting the auxiliary top 11 to positionthe apertures therein out of register with those in top 2 and to position the finger 22 ready to receive the ball 10 which has been admitted onto the bottom 25 in the manner just above described. The actuation of the crank handle 19 in addition to sliding the top 11 also operatesto project the ball which rests on itsfinger 22 upward causing it to pass the support 27 and to thereby force the column of balls contained in said pocket upwardly so that the uppermost ball of the series reaches the point opposite the opening 31 in said pocket 33 and is forced laterally by the spring 30 into seat 32 ready for the next actuation of the push but-ton 34.

It will thus be seen that this operation may be repeated by any desired number of players or each player may have ,any sired number of plays according to the rules of the ame being played. It is also to be noted tfiatthe entrances to the channels which the balls are to be directed are controlled by the position of the switches 6 and 7 in the manner above described.

While this improved apparatus isshown and described with the ball channels made ovate and circular, respectively, it is to be understood that they may be made of any desired configuration and with any desired number of holes or apertures arranged 1n any suitable or desired manner and that the frame 1 while shown rectangular, may be made of any other desired configuration. v

By the arrangement and construction above described and shown, itwill be obvious that the balls 10 maybekept continuously in circulation by the actuation of the crank handle 19 and the push button 34, the ball fallinginto position on the finger 22 and operable by thedep1essi0n of the handle 19 to be forced upwardly into the pocket and take the place of the ball which has been projected by the depression of the push button 34. j i From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains and while I have described the principle of operatibnof the invention together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device'shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as are within the scope of the claimed invention.

I claim 1. A game apparatus comprising a board having a ball channel with seats communieating therewith, balls for passage through. said channel, and means for keeping said balls in circulation. a

2. A game apparatus comprising a board having a'ball channel with openings in one side. wall thereof, means for rojecting a ball through said channel, an means discharging the projected ball through one of said openings and for elevating 1t into projected position.

3. A game apparatus having ball seats means for projecting a ball into one of sai seats, and means or returning the projected ball into position for actuation by the projecting means.

4. A game apparatus comprising a board having openin s therethrough, a plate slidable under said board and having openings adapted to register with those in the board when the plate is disposed in one position,

.ball projecting means carried .by said board,

and means for simultaneously slidingsaid plate to position its apertures in register with those of the board and to elevate one a of the balls projected and discharged through said openings.

5. In a game apparatus, a board having openings therethrough, aplate mounted to slide below said board and having openingsadaptedto register with the openings in said board when the plate is in one position, a

ball pocket communicating at one end with theupper face of said'board, a bell crank connected to actuate said sliding late and to simultaneously elevate the bal in said pocket.

6. In a game apparatus, a board having openings t erethrough, a plate mounted to slide below said board and having openings adapted to register with the openings in said board when the plate is in one position, a ball pocket communicating at one end with theupper face of said board, a bell crank connected to actuate said sliding plate and to simultaneously elevate the ball in said pocket, and a yieldable ball support operable transversely of said pocket.

7. In a ame apparatus, a board having openings t erethrough, a plate mounted to sl de below said board and having openings .adapted to register with the openings in said board when the plate is in one position, a ball pocket communicating at one end with the upper face of said board, a bell crank connected to actuate said sliding plate and to simultaneously elevate the ball in said pocket, and a yieldable ball support operable transversely of said pocket, said support having means whereby it is moved outwardly into inoperative position on the elevation of a ball from below. t

8. In a game apparatus, a board havingball seats in its upper face, a ball pocket opening through said board, a plurality of balls fed through said pocket, a laterally yieldable support for said balls, a laterally yieldable ball engaging element positioned to project one of the balls from said pocket when it reaches a predetermined point therein, and projecting means for engaging the ball discharged from the pocket and to impel it over the face of said board.

9. In a game apparatus, a board'having openings t erethrough, a plate slidable under said board and provided with openings adapted to register with those in the board when the plate is in-oneposition, a downwardly inclined bottom arranged below said sliding plate, a bell crank having one arm engaged with said sliding plate, a pocket opening at right angles through said board and into which the other arm of said bell crank projects, a ball support arranged in said pocket above said bell-crank arm,-and means for actuating said bell crank to cause one arm thereof to move said sliding plate to position the apertures into register with those of the board and its other arm to elevate the ball in said pocket to position it above the support therein, and means for automatically returning said bell crank to normal position.

10. In a game apparatus, a board having a plurality of ball channels formed on its upper face and providedat intervals with ball seats, switches for controlling the entrance to said ball channels, and means for projecting a ball to direct it through one of said channels.

11. In a game apparatus, a board having a switch controlled ball channel therein with ball seats arranged at intervals there-around, and a rojector carried by said board for propellmg a ball through said channel.

12. In a game apparatus, a board having a plurality of ball channels with ball seats arranged at intervals therearound. and a pivotally mounted switch arranged to cut ofl' the entrance to one of said channels and to open the entrance of the other channel.

13. In av game apparatus, a board having a plurality of openings thercthrough, a plate mounted to slide below said board and having openings adapted to register with those in the board when the plate is in one position, a ball pocket opening through said board and depending below said plate, a bottom arranged below said plate and inclined outwardly toward said pocket and communlcatiug therewith at itslower end, a spring pressed bell crank having one arm connected with said plate and its other arm positioned in said pocket and provided with an upstanding ball supportin finger, means for actuating said bell cranc to slide said plate and to elevate said ball supporting finger, and projecting means arranged adjacent said pocket on said board whereby a ball discharged from said pocketmay be projected over said board.-

14. In a-galne apparatus, a board having a plurality of openings therethrough, a plate mounted to slide below said board and having openings adapted to register with those in the board when the plate is in one position, a ball pocket opening through said board and depending below said plate, a bottom arranged below said plate and inclined outwardly toward said pocket and communicating therewith at its lower end, a. spring pressed bell crank having one arm connected with said plate and its other arm positioned in said pocket and provided with an upstanding ball supporting finger, means for actuating said bell crank to slide said ball and to elevate said ball supporting finger, projecting means arranged adjacent said pocket on said board whereby a ball discharged -from said pocket may be projected over said board, and a laterally yieldable element positioned at the upper end'of said pocket for forcing the ball laterally outward into the path of said projector,

15. In a game apparatus, a board having a plurality of openings therein, a plate mounted to slide under said board and having openings adapted to register with those a in the board when the plate is in one posiagainst the tension thereof to bring the o enings therein into register with those of t e board, aball socket opening through said board and extending below said plate and adapted to normally containa plurality of playing balls, a spring connected at one end to said ocket and havin a laterally extending ba l support at it ree end normally rojected into the path of the balls to holdtiiem in elevated position Within the pocket, and means for projecting a ball into contact with said support formoving it outward against the tension of its spring for permitting the projected ball to be raised into a lane above said support.

16. n a game apparatus, a board having a a plurality of openings therein, a plate boar means for actuating said spring mounted to slide under said board and having openings adapted to register with those in the board when the plate is in one position,

spring pressed means for normally holding said 'late out of register with those in the pressed means to move said plate gainst the tension thereof to brin the openings therein into register with t ose of'the board, a

ball pocket opening through said board and extending be ow said plate and adapted to normally contain a plurality of playing balls, a spring connected at one endto sai .pocket and having a laterally extending ball support at the free end normally pro ected into the path of the balls to hold them in elevated position within the pocket, and means for projecting a ball into contact with said support for moving it outward- FRANK H. ELLISON. 

